Washout hampers Cook's designs

Umpires Steve Davis and Asoka de Silva inspect the outfield, but persistent rain ensured there was to be no play on Friday

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Rain washed out day two of the second npower Test between England and West Indies at Riverside.

Alastair Cook must therefore wait until tomorrow at the earliest to try to reach a new career-best score, after forecast bad weather swept across the north-east today.

The inevitable abandonment was confirmed shortly after 4pm, with no sign of an improvement in conditions.

Cook had closed last night on 126 not out in England's 302 for two, after he and his Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara (108) shared a second-wicket stand of 213.

The highest of his nine Test hundreds so far is his unbeaten 139 against these opponents in Barbados two months ago.

The washout was much more in England's favour than the West Indies', the tourists needing to somehow win this match to salvage a series draw and retain the Wisden Trophy.

That will be no easy task, chasing the game from an unpromising position with just three days remaining.

There was good news for the 5,000 people who had bought tickets for the second day's play - Durham announcing they will all be eligible for free entry tomorrow, Sunday or Monday.

Availability tomorrow is likely to be limited, however, with a 16,000 full house apparently expected.